Kelvin Spellvinators - Thrive Spelling Bee Champions 2025

This year's Thrive Spelling Bee Final was a close fought affair with one point separating the winners, Kelvin Spellvinators and runners-up Sidmouth Spells. The other two finalists also put up amazing performances. These were Chiltern Champs and Newland's Buzzworthy Girls.

Ten rounds, including team challenges and individual hot spot rounds, were contested in the Basil Reckitt Lecture Theatre at Hull University. The sixteen contestants were cheered on by other students, parents and VIP guests. Once again, the event was compered by the enigmatic David Peers, with Jacqui Rushby as scorer/adjudicator.

Our profound thanks go to our sponsors Gateway Heyworth, and our Chair of Thrive Members, Claire Wood who presented certificates and medals to everyone as well as the trophy to the Spellvinators.

We are also grateful for the University, their porters and IT team for the use of the lecture theatre and also to Chris Constable, who masterminded the IT system.

The competition had been open to all students in years 6 & 7 across our trust. In Round 1, each school had to select their team. We then had a Primary School semi-final, in which seven teams competed and another semi-final, with each of our three secondary schools fielding two teams each.